Plug cluster



Sept. 23, 1925.

R. B. BENJAMIN PLUG CLUSTER Filed July 30 1920 2 Sheets-811901. l

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Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,035

R. B. BENJAMIN PLUG cwsmz Filed July so 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 men-tn? film lhfw I rggw cluster shown in Patented Sept. 23, 1924-.

: REUBEN B BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY} OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLUG crusrna.

Application filed July so, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plug Clusters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

y invention relates to electrical connector devices, and more specificallyto plug clusters provided with pull switches.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved electrical connector device which will be efficient and durable in operation, simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

A'further object ofmy invention is to I provide an improved pull switch plug cluster. p

Further objects will appear from .thedetailed description to follow and from the:

appended claims. I I

In the drawings'in which one embodiment of my invention is shown Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pull switch plug cluster;

Fig. 2 is an i x iallsection of the plug Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower part of the plug cluster;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line H of Fig. 3;

F ig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 55 of Fig.3; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the lower insulating member and related parts.

The pull switch plug cluster shown in the drawings comprises in a general way a plug portion 10 for screwing into an Edison socket, a pair of receptacle portions 11, and a'pair of pull switch mechanisms 12 for controlling the circuit between the plug portion. 10 and the receptacle portions 11 respectively I The various contacts, conductors and switch fmechanisms are supported in proper relation with respect to each other and suitably insulated by means of three insulating members as follows: A generally cylindrical upper insulating member 13, which supports the center plug contact 14, and insulates it fromthe threaded shell plug contact 15; a lower substantially circular insuported by the lower Serial No. 400,062.

lating base 16, which supports the switch mechanisms 12 and-the shell and receptacle contacts 17 and 18 respectively, and an intermediate spacing and housing member 19, which covers the switch mechanism supinsulating member 16, and which is provided with passages for the conductors 20 and 21 leading from the plug portion of the device to the receptacle portion.

I The threaded electrically connected with the threaded shell contact 15 of the plug portion, the switch mechanisms 12 controlling the circuit between the center contact 14 of the plug portion and the center contacts 18 respectively of the receptacle portions.

The conducting member 20 is in the form of a screw which not only serves as part of the electrical circuit but also to hold the three insulating members 13, 16 and 19 together.

A hemispherical sheet metal housing 22 is provided for the receptacle contacts, this housing 22 being securedin place by means of insulating bushings 23 which extend through openings in the housing 22 and are threaded onto the threaded shell contacts 17 which are secured to the lower insulating base 16. I

The threaded shell contacts 17 are secured to a V-shaped sheet metal stamping 241, having inturned ears 25 which are secured to the lower base 16 by means of a pair of screws 26. The heads of these screws 26 are in engagement with the lower end of of the conducting strip 21, so that the screws form part of the electrical circuit as well as securing means. The circuit from the threaded shell contact 15 of the plug to the threaded shell contacts 17 of the receptacles is from the flange of the threaded shell contact through the conducting strip 21, screw 26 and sheet metal stamping 24 to the threaded shell contact 17. As previously stated the threaded shell contacts 17 of the receptacle portion are thus always in electrical connection with the threaded shell contact 15 of the plug portion, the switch mechanisms controlling the circuit between the center contact 14 of the plug portion shell contacts 17 of the receptacle portion of the device are always respectively.

plug center contact 14 to a conducting and contact member 27 which is common to the twoswitch mechanisms 12, this contact and conducting member being secured to the lower insulating member 16 by means of an eyelet 28 into which thelower end of the screw 20 is threaded. This contact and conducting member 27 is provided with a pair of upstanding contact portions 29 for cooperation with the switch mechanisms 12 I Each switch mechanism 12 controls, the circuit between one of these contact portions 29 and the center contacts 18 respectively. Each of these switch mechanisms 12 comprises-a ratchet-operated commutator 30 which alternately makes and breaks thecircuitpneach actuation'of .the pull chain member 31. lhis commutator 30 comprises a rotatable insulating brush-carrier. 32 to which is secured an ecc'entrically located brush 33,'the brush-'carrier having a semi-circular eccentricallyvarranged portion 34 upon which the spring contact member 35 snaps-when it rides-01f I .33. The springcontact member integrally therewith an inwardly-extending fitting down over arm'39, by means of which the semi-circular brush 33 is electrically connected with 'a bracket 10, which bracket 40 is in turnelectrically connected with one of the center contacts 18 by means of a screw 41. This screw 41 serves-not only to electrically connect the center contact 18 with the bracket 40 but also serves to hold the center contact a 18 and bracket 40 in place on the lower insulating base 16. The circuit through the switch is thus from the upstanding contact member 21 through the spring contact member 35, brush 33, inwardly-extending arm 39, bracket 40 and screwel to the-center contact 18.

, The switch mechanisms 12 are located in recesses 42 in the upper face of the lower insulating base 16, the intermediate base 19 the lower base 16 and for the switch mechanisms torming a cover 112.

The use and operation of the device 18 vobvious from the description of @the construction and circuit above. 'tion 10 is screwed into a receptacle .andthe circuit between the :plug portion 10 and re The plug por- .a plug portion,

3 an insulating petticoat and a 'rneta'l ceptacle portions 11 respectively may be controlled by pulling onitlie pull chains 31 respectively.

Access may be had to the switchmecha- 'nisms when desired for adjustment orjrepairs simply by unscrewing'fthe screw 20 and lifting off the plug portion 10 together w'itht-he intermediate insulating member 19.

The spacing and housing member 19 serves as an insulating petticoat and, in combination with the bowl-shaped housing member 22, forms an enclosing housing for the receptacle sub-assembly, which subassembly comprises the insulating base :16,

the receptacle contacts 17 and '18 "and the switch inechanism 12,

Certain generic claims covering broadly certain features shown in this =-application are presented in my cofpending applications Serial No. 343,7 57 filed December .10, 1919, .electrical receptacle, and Serial No. 3516,1672, filed February 6, ,1920,-p'lug cluster What "I claim as new and desire to -secure by Letters Patent of the-United States (is:

1. A. "pull switch plug cluster comprising a receptacle sub-assembly, an insulating petticoat and a metal bowl shaped housing member, said "receptacle subassembly comprising an insulating base, with receptacle contacts and {pull switch mechanism mounted thereon, said etticoat and bowl eshaped housing member being combined to form an enclosing housing for said sub-assembly.

2. A pull switch a. plug portion, a receptacle -sub=assembly, *bo-wl shaped housing member, said receptacle :SiIbassembly comprising an insulating base, with receptacle contacts mechanism mounted "thereon, said f-petticoat and bowl shaped housing member "being combined to form an enclosing housing for said sub-assembly, said bowl's'hape'd housing member'being suspended from said isubassembly. i

3. A pull switch plug cluster comprising a plug portion, 'a receptacle:ssubeasselmbly, an "insulating Epetticoat and :a metazlbbwl shaped 'housingmember, said receptacle siibassembly comprising an insulating base, with receptacle contacts and pullvswitcih mechanism mounted rthereon, said Petticoat and bowl shaped housing member being combined to form an enclosing :housing for shaped housing :member; said receptacle subassembly comprising aani-nsnlating ibase,

plug cluster comprising and pull switch with receptacle contacts and EH30 mechanism mounted thereon, said petticoat mechanism mounted thereon, said petticoat and bowl shaped housing member being and bowl shaped housing member being combined to form an enclosing housing for combined to form an enclosing housing for 15 said sub-assembly, said petticoat being said sub-assembly, and a screw extending clamped between said plug portion and rethrough said plug portion, petticoat, and inceptacle sub-assembly. sulating base, for supplying current to the 5. A pull switch plug cluster comprising receptacle portion, and clamping said pettia plug portion, a. receptacle sub-assembly, coat between said plug portion and sub- 20 an insulating petticoat and a metal bowl assembly. shaped housing member, said receptacle sub- In witness whereof, I have hereunto subassembly comprising an insulating base, scribed my name.

with receptacle contacts and pull switch REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

